33 Minutes by Todd Hasak-Lowy (review)

In exactly thirty-three minutes, Morgan Sturtz is going to kick Sam Lewis’ butt. They weren’t always at odds—in fact, as of last Friday, Sam and Morgan were best buds, but that was before Sam committed an act of such treachery that a lunchtime throw-down was decidedly called for. Narrated by whiz-kid Sam as the clock ticks on, the story walks readers through an average day in middle school as Sam endures a torturous social studies class, a rousing cafeteria food fight, a fake (or maybe real) fire alarm, and finally an encounter with Morgan that changes the landscape of their friendship and Sam’s middle-school experience forever. The dissolution of friendships between preadolescent girls has been extensively covered by the likes of Audrey Vernick (Water Balloon, BCCB 10/11) and Frances O’Roark Dowell (The Kind of Friends We Used to Be, BCCB 5/09), and here Hasak-Lowy gives readers a similarly thoughtful examination of relationships between boys with a deft and compassionate hand, all while keeping the humor and tone squarely targeted at tween guys. Nerdy Sam is likable but also a bit self-important, while Morgan may be the obvious instigator but doesn’t otherwise seem like a bad guy. Readers will quickly recognize that the demise of this relationship falls at the feet of both boys as the pressures of middle school and changing identities simply become too much for their friendship to endure. The sophisticated narrative structure balances Sam’s account of the thirty-three minutes (which actually turns into an hour and half) with his memories of past times with Morgan in flashbacks that give readers clues to what exactly is going on with the boys now. Witty and wise, this will appeal to boys looking for both laughs and guidance.